At Grief Support Hudson We Believe That…
- Grief and grieving are natural responses to death;
- Each of us has the capacity to heal from loss;
- No two people grieve the same way;
- A safe space to meet & talk that nurtures acceptance, caring, and compassion
provides support and assists in the healing process.
Who We Are
Grief Support Hudson (GSH) is a community based peer support organization for all people – of all religions or spiritual beliefs, all races, all genders, all countries of origin, all abilities, all sexual orientations, and all life situations. We value humility, truth-telling, and service to each other. The spaces we hold for people to connect are psychologically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually nurturing. Our offerings are opportunities for us to embrace each other and explore how grief is something we all share, even if the roots of our grief are very different.
About the facilitators:
Michele Widd trained as a grief support group facilitator through the Dougy Center – The National Center For Grieving Children & Families. Her husband, and the father of her child, died of cancer at the age of 38 and her mother and father both died in the ensuing years due to health complications. Michele knows firsthand how devastating and challenging it can be to navigate the loss of a loved one and how helpful community support can be in that process. She believes that having a place to share stories, be heard, and feel held by people who can truly connect with the full range of your emotions without judgement and without trying to “fix things” is deeply healing and empowering. In addition to her work with Grief Support Hudson, Michele is a youth and young adult life coach with GoalSpark Coaching. She holds a B.S. and M.S., and is a certified Montessori educator (NAMC) with over a decade of experience guiding kids, teens, and young adults. In addition, Michele is trained in positive parenting through Positive Parenting Solutions and certified to teach mindfulness to children through the Omega Institute. Learn more about Michele and her work here: http://goalsparkcoaching.com
Claire Papell is an advanced certified yoga teacher (RYT-500), with a private practice supporting women through loss with mindfulness and meditation. Claire’s approach to grief support hinges largely on her belief that sharing our stories in carefully-crafted spaces designed to acknowledge our sadness rather than ones determined to fix it, is an important component to moving forward with grief. Her posture towards grief and loss stems from her spiritual education as a yoga practitioner and teacher, as well as her own understandings of sorrow from personal trauma. Claire offers a soothing, grounding presence that allows people to be seen and heard, and invites us to visit the inner layers of ourselves with gentleness and deep courage. Learn more about Claire and her work here: https://www.clairepapell.com
What We Do
In the aftermath of loss, we need spaces where we can arrive just as we are, without pressure to hide our emotions. We need communities that are safe and non-judgmental, filled with empathy and listening ears, and fellow members who understand the nature of deep loss because they’re living with their own. We need time to give voice to our grief and validation for the individual ways we navigate life after loss.
This fall, GSH will be facilitating a 6-week grief support group for women and children. We are hosting two orientations to share more about our work, the 6-week offering, and answer any questions you might have about what to expect from the experience. We will also provide next steps for registering for the 6-week group. Please join us on Wednesday, November 6th or Monday, November 11th at 6:15pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hudson located at 369 Warren Street, Hudson, NY .
If you’re interested in registering, but are unable to attend either of the orientation dates, please contact us by clicking the link below and we’d be more than happy to help you.
If you are a school administrator, sports program coach, or community group leader in Columbia County, New York looking for CRISIS RESPONSE resources in the face of a recent death affecting your school, team, or group, please contact us immediately by clicking the link above. We are here to help.